KEIGHLEY and the two Pudsey clubs dominated the team and individual awards at the Romwear Bradford Junior League's prize presentation at Cleckheaton Sports Club, with Keighley winning six and Pudsey St Lawrence and Pudsey Congs four each.

The Lawkholme Lane club did the double at under-13 and under-15 level, winning the Northern section and the cups at both age groups, while Joe Hall was the leading bowler at under-13 level and Harris Rowlett the top wicket-keeper.

Former Yorkshire Indoor Cricket School manager Ralph Middlebrook was the guest speaker and reminded juniors about the importance of the game's third discipline.

He said: "Try to bowl well and try to bat well but there is no excuse for not being able to field."

Pudsey Congs' representative on the JCT600 Bradford League and the father of Yorkshire all-rounder James Middlebrook, Ralph laughed: "I used to be known as Ralph Middlebrook, but now I am James' dad!

"The Bradford League is a good grounding to play cricket and James has been in the Yorkshire team this year when Adil Rashid has been unavailable, and it has been a fairy-tale ending to James' career being part of the County Championship-winning team, and I am extremely proud."

Middlebrook senior remembered: "We used to play on the back lawn and the drive at home when James was growing up, and if he used to hit the ball on the offside, I used to fetch it, and if he hit the ball on the leg-side, he used to fetch it.

"Cricket is an offside game, and Geoffrey Boycott says 'Middle stump is too straight'.

"And I would rather someone score ten runs in ten overs or bat for an hour than play your reverse sweeps or flicks. Leave those for the nets."